Perplexed by the persistent struggles of an underachieving defense, the Browns shook up the playing time of their linebackers Sunday in a 33-30 overtime win against the Baltimore Ravens.
The changes still resulted in the league’s 30th-ranked defense (400.4 yards allowed per game) getting gashed, but the rise of rookie outside linebacker Nate Orchard might qualify as a bright spot.
Orchard, a second-round pick in this year’s draft, played 43 of 70 snaps (61 percent). His previous high was 25 snaps.
He finished with five tackles and a batted pass. He also pressured Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, forcing him to throw through the end zone and out of bounds on third-and-goal at the Browns’ 5-yard line with 29 seconds left.